Paris, 3 June 2010 - Mod'Spé Paris announces an Executive MBA programme in Fashion Management in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and U21Global

In its continuing efforts to strengthen its global presence, Mod'Spé Paris, one of the world's leading Fashion Business Schools, affiliated to the French Federation of "Women's Ready-to-Wear", signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 3rd June 2010. The MoU formalises the creation of an eMBA in Fashion Business Management between Mod'Spé, IGNOU and U21Global.

India today celebrates a unique blend of a rich and varied textile heritage and international fashion trends. Fashion in India is a fusion of vibrant styles combined with weaving in vogues of different cultures. Globally recognised brands are networking with Indian markets not just for its superior quality in raw materials but for the innovative finished products as well.

The eMBA Fashion Business Management, the first of its kind in the world, has emerged due to the efforts of Mod'Spé Paris, specialising in Fashion Management and Marketing, IGNOU, a University that envisages to be an instrument for democratising and augmenting opportunities for higher education and U21Global, the world's premier on line graduate school supported by an international network of leading research-intensive universities.

The focus of this programme is to develop and train candidates and create opportunities to achieve success in the fields of Management and Fashion business.

Scheduled to commence in September 2010, the programme will enroll a minimum number of 32 students. The programme will be open to candidates at the Bac+3/4 level and those with a minimum of two years of professional experience.

This eMBA programme will be of 18 months, comprising three complementary stages:

• 12 months programme - delivered by eLearning through U21 Global, covering management and entrepreneurial skills
• 3 months face-to-face programme - by Mod'Spé in Paris, on Fashion Marketing, Brand Management, visits to London, Paris and Milan fashion weeks and interaction with international designers.
• 3 months programme - by IGNOU via Blended learning of face-to-face and distance learning on Fashion Culture and Textile technology

This tripartite programme has been well researched, studied and built to answer the requirements of Indian companies and to fuel the interests of fashion enthusiasts and entrepreneurs the world over.

We believe that this endeavour will open the doors to further promising partnerships across the globe.

Nick Hutton, CEO of U21Global said, "We are very happy to partner Mod'Spe Paris in this unique programme, which brings together the best of the fashion world and online learning to the same platform. I am sure the students will find this mix very educative and exciting."

Dr Rene Mardellat, Managing Director of Mod'Spe Paris, the fashion business school of French Fashion professionals commented, "I am proud to participate in this online fashion marketing program, the first one in the world. The combination of three renowned educational establishments serving our marketing students with the best they can offer is an unprecedented event in the field of learning. I have no doubt that this programme will be a great success and will have an impact that its originality and relevance deserves."